07/11/2025 Koror, Palau — Team Marianas’ 161-strong delegation made a statement at the 12th Pacific Mini Games in Palau, wrapping up with a strong showing of 31 medals—10 golds, eight silvers, and 13 bronzes—finishing sixth overall out of 23 Pacific nations. The swim team, led by flag bearer Isaiah Aleksenko stormed the podium on each of their pool event days bagging the most medals for the team at 14—with six gold won by Aleksenko; young wrestler Seth Sablan earned a gold in his division; and athletics’ standouts Tania Tan ran her way to two gold medals, with another gold by Lyle Andrew.
07/10/2025 - Koror, Palau — It was a storybook ending for Team Marianas as they wrapped up a strong run at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, finishing with a total of 31 medals—including a gold from Tania Tan and a bronze from the women’s 3x3 basketball team on the final day, Wednesday, July 9. When the dust settled, the sweat and tears dried, and the final tallies were in, Team Marianas landed in the top six overall with 10 golds, eight silvers, and 13 bronzes.
07/09/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Nine (July 8) competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; taken by MP Sports Director Leigh Gases
07/09/2025 - Koror, Palau — In the penultimate day of the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, Team Marianas picked up its 29th medal—a silver in beach volleyball—after Logan Mister and Andrew Johnson went up against rival and powerhouse Australia, falling in two straight sets, 18-21, 18-21, on a hot and humid Tuesday.
07/08/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Eight (July 7) competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; taken by MP Sports Director Leigh Gases
07/08/2025 - Koror, Palau — The sun finally decided to make an appearance and keep the rain away—but it also brought with it a wave of heartbreak and upsets for Team Marianas at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games. Still, a medal is a medal, and Monday, July 7, opened the week with bronze finishes for the NMI baseball team and athletics standout Tania Tan.
07/06/2025 Koror, Palau — It was another rainy hot, then later rainy day in Palau but Team Marianas kept the energy high as the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games continued. They added three more medals to their tally—all from weightlifting—thanks to Joey Colisao (silver and bronze) and Jason Limes (bronze) for a total of 26 medals as of July 5.
07/05/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Five competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; taken by MP Sports Director Leigh Gases
07/05/2025 - Koror, Palau — It was an explosive 4th of July for Team Marianas as they hauled in more medals, unofficially broke more national records, and notched big wins. The rain kept falling, but it didn’t dampen their campaign to put the NMI on the map at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games. The day started off with a bang as athletics finally opened up early with Tania Tan getting the gold in the 10,000m with a time of 38:03.57.
07/04/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Four competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; taken by MP Sports Director Leigh Gases
07/04/2025 - Koror, Palau — Day 4 of the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games was a tough one for Team Marianas, which added just one medal to its tally—a gold from flagbearer Isaiah Aleksenko—bringing the total to 19 medals so far. Each team and athlete rode a roller coaster of emotions, from big wins to tough losses, but our athletes continued to represent the CNMI with heart, pride, and passion.
07/03/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Three competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games.
07/03/2025 - Koror, Palau — Medals, drama, and thrilling action dominated Day 3 (July 2) of the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games as Team Marianas fired their way through another successful showing in the venues across Palau. After all the emotion, drama, and excitement of the day, Team Marianas added six more medals for a total of 18 medals so far.
07/02/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day Two competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games
07/02/2025 - Koror, Palau — Team Marianas is showing out on Day 2 of the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, now six medals richer for a total of 12 won so far. The rain just won’t seem to let up in Palau and Team Marianas’ quest for medals isn’t either as the wrestling and swimming team won three more medals each.
07/01/2025 - Koror, Palau — Team Marianas is already shining just one day into the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, racking up a total of six medals—two gold, one silver, and three bronze—all won yesterday, June 30.
06/30/2025 - Our compilation of photos from Team Marianas' Day One competitions at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games; taken by MP Sports Director Leigh Gases
06/30/2025 - Koror, Palau — In the midst of Palau’s rainy season, the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games officially opened last night with an unforgettable ceremony that embraced island spirit and Pacific unity—downpours and all.
06/27/2025 - The NMI National Triathlon Team has been running, swimming, and biking in the wild north of Saipan as they prepare to compete—whether under intense heat or rainy Palauan skies—at the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, set for June 29 to July 9. The sprint triathlon individual event will take each triathlete through the terrains of Palau, featuring a 750m open-water swim, a 20km bike ride, and a grueling 5K run.
06/26/2025 - The young NMI National Wrestling Team has been throwing it down at the beach and on the mats as they gear up for the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, set for June 29 to July 9. After wrestling made a grand comeback to the CNMI sports scene last year at the Micronesian Games—where the team put on a strong showing with six gold medals—a much younger, locally assembled U20 squad is now looking to make an impression among the Pacific’s youth wrestlers in beach wrestling, freestyle, and Greco-Roman.
06/25/2025 - The young but experienced NMI National Swim Team has been practicing in their element as they set out to make waves and strong finishes in Palau and take on some of the Pacific’s best at the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, set for June 29 to July 9. After a medal haul for the ages in the 2024 Micronesian Games—49 golds, 15 silvers, and 14 bronzes, the swim team is now up against much steeper competition in the bigger Pacific region.
Check out snapshots of the event taken by MP's Leigh Gases
06/24/2025 - The NMI Men’s and Women’s National Volleyball Team have been getting some high-flying and hard hitting action in at the Marianas High School Gymnasium as they are fired up to stage a comeback after a long hiatus in regional competition and put the Marianas back on the map at the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games, set for June 29-July 9. Meanwhile, the NMI Men’s National Beach Volleyball duo have flown in from Hawaii and California to represent once again with redemption in mind.
06/23/25 - The NMI National Athletics Team is tearing up the track at the Oleai Sports Complex and in their respective training spaces off island, all in pursuit of track and field glory against some of the Pacific’s best—and even a few Olympians—at the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games from June 29 to July 9. The squad are no stranger to competition as all but one athlete have experience in regional or international competition.
06/21/2025 - The NMI Men’s and Women’s National 3x3 Basketball Team have been letting it all out on the courts at Marianas High School Gym and Koblerville Gym as they prepare for a high level of intense competition in the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games from June 29 to July 9. Despite it being a FIBA Asia/U23 and Commonwealth qualifier—with lots at stake and more dynamic and fast-paced play on half-court with no coach and only one backup player—the young men’s and women’s 3x3 squads are up for the challenge against powerhouses in the Pacific.
06/20/2025 - Defending gold medalists, the NMI Men’s National Baseball Team has been grinding at the very place where they won it all in the 2022 Pacific Mini Games—the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Baseball Field—in preparation of defending their title in the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games from June 29 to July 9. Three years after the CNMI hosted the Mini Games and its national baseball team clinched the championship, the team is now on a mission to defend that title as they face off against 2022 runner-up Guam, bronze medalist and host nation Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Fiji.
06/19/2025 - The NMI Women’s National Fastpitch Softball Team has been stirring up the dust at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Softball Field as they work on their team chemistry, softball IQ, and overall preparations for the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games set for June 29-July 9. After breaking through with a bronze medal at the 2024 Micronesian Games—their first Micro Games appearance since 2006—this year’s team plans to ride that momentum into their first Pacific Mini Games appearance since 2005.
06/18/2025 - The NMI National Weightlifting Team has been shaking it up in the weightroom of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium as they gear up to beat some personal bests, get on the podium, and shine once again among other Pacific islands in the upcoming 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games set for June 29-July 9. The usual suspects in the CNMI weightlifting world are back at it to compete for podium finishes—with an addition of one new lifter. The team is made up of Devine Pua, Riella Ichiuo, Angel San Nicolas, Jaden Andrew, Jason Limes, Joey Colisao, Leowell Cristobal, and 2024 Micronesian Games flagbearer Antonette Labausa, who is also the team coach.
06/17/2025 - Mini Games, Major Prep– A series dedicated to highlighting Team Marianas’ journey, dedication, and preparation leading up to the 2025 Palau Pacific Mini Games from June 29-July 9.
First up, we take a deep dive with the NMI National Va’a Team.
Tune in as Leigh Gases speaks with members of Team Marianas ahead of the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. In this episode, Leigh speaks with Anthony Salas (baseball), Jay Kintol (baseball), Rondelle Apostol (men’s indoor volleyball), Katriel Saures (women’s indoor volleyball), Antonette Labausa (weightlifting), Theodore Rodgers (athletics), and Terra Allen (triathlon).
Welcome to Marianas Press’ one-on-one sports segment called Beyond The Game, where we sit down and chat once a month with someone in the CNMI’s sports scene to give you in-depth information, background, and analysis of their respective sport that goes beyond what we see from the sidelines. Tune in as Leigh Gases speaks with members of Team Marianas ahead of the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. In this episode, Leigh speaks with Alana Hayes (va’a), Dayna Macaranas (va’a), Marlene Lumabi (basketball), Isaiah Aleksenko (swimming), Mark Flores (fast pitch softball), Alannah Sablan (fast pitch softball), Miles Borja (wrestling), and Jason Tarkong (wrestling).
05/22/2025 - Team Marianas visited the CNMI Governor’s Office yesterday as they received $50,000 in support from the administration. 162 athletes are preparing to travel to Palau to compete in the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.
Interview with Nick Gross, CNMI Public School System Athletic Program Director and Team CNMI’s Chef de Mission for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Palau.